RIP:
K-Pop Band SHINee Mourns the Death of 27-Year-Old Member Jonghyun

The K-Pop fandom is mourning the loss of SHINee member Jonghyun who suddenly died from an apparent suicide. He was 27 years old. The details surrounding his death are still very vague, however, it has been confirmed that he was found unconscious in his apartment by police in Cheong-dam in the Gangnam district of Seoul. His sister had reportedly contacted authorities and filed a police report because she was concerned about his overall well being. Metro is reporting that Jonghyun sent a goodbye text to his sister before passing away which is what caused the concern.

Just a day after the news broke, a message was posted on the Instagram account of Nine, a musician with modern rock band Dear Cloud. While this is not confirmed, it's believed that Nine has posted a note she received from Jonghyun two weeks before his death. He talks about the hardships of fame, the struggle of being so open to the world and how he can't change his personality. It's heartbreaking. Nine decided that she wanted to share the letter to spread awareness about what was really going on inside Jonghyun's head and give a bit more insight about why he may have made the decisions he did at the end of his life.

SM Entertainment, the talent agency and record label that represents the brand, confirmed the news. Their statement read, "This is SM Entertainment. We are sorry to be the bearer of such tragic, heartbreaking news. On December 18th, SHINee’s Jonghyun left us very suddenly. He was discovered unconscious at a residence in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul and was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead. Our sadness cannot compare to the pain of his family, who had to say goodbye to a son and a brother, but we have spent a long time with him, and the SHINee members along with the SM Entertainment staff are all in deep mourning and shock."

They continued, "Jonghyun loved music more than anybody else and he was an artist who did everything to perform his absolute best on stage. It breaks our heart to have to bring this news to fans who loved Jonghyun so much. Please refrain from reporting on rumors and guesswork so the family of the deceased can honor him in peace. As per the wish of the family, the funeral will be held quietly with his relatives and company colleagues. Once again we show our deepest condolences to Jonghyun on his last journey."

The whole thing is incredibly tragic. The group, who consist of members Minho, Taemin, Onew, and Key, released their fifth album this year. Jonghyun also performed two solo concerts in Seoul just weeks ago. He had a bright future ahead of him. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, fans, and SHINee as they try and cope with this huge loss.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, 1-800-273-8255.